Threading device



July 25, 1950 s. ADLER 2,516,171

THREADING DEVICE Filed Aug. 30, 1946 .v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1V LU ATTORNE Ys July 25, 1950 s. ADLER 2,516,171

THREADING vDEVICE TI'ORNEYS July 25,1950 s. ADLER 2,516,111

' 'rl-IREADING DEVICE Filed Aug. 30, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 44 49 4g 45 50 J1 29a -al $1 52 D July 2.5, 1950 s. ADLER 2,516,171

THREADING DEVICE Filed Aug. 30, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 'L INVEN'I'OR.

m, M- M f@ .This `invention":relates to .a ,threading device and,qmo re particularly. .toga device for .guiding a thread through the. various eyeletsand apertured guides of a-sewng or-.similargmahne.y

z The number of these thread guides in the conventional type of .sewing machine is .comparatively large. Many machineszhave nine 'and more thread guides. vThe problemtogpass the-.thread through allthese openings .takes `up a consider able .amount of theyoperatorsftime. and energy. In addition, if onlycnegiofg;theguideholes is inadvertently skipped thethread will .inevitably break. Furthermore, thenumber and location ofthe guides varies inthe several .types of machines. This increases .the difficulty of threadf ing for an inexperienced. workerand also for skilled workers who arenotfamiliarfwitha particularmake or type of machine. l

, It is an object vofthis invention to solvethese problems by providingv a deviceqwhich.. performs gf the threading. operation automaticallvf leaving tothe hand only the nal r. threading yof the eye of the needle. f* v l A further yobject isthe formationfof thethreading'device-in a machine such that it; can be -.:Fig. 2A is a detail view ina': section on lines- 2A--2A of Fig. 2 and illustrates thedriving means for the spiral spring;l which constitutes the threader member of the machinelu'z.,

,-Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine, withoutlcover plates,;g` Lz Fig. 4 `is a somewhat diagrammatical,` transf verse sectional View onV lines 4-4 of Fig.3;'

...Fig 5 is a-transverse section on lines55of Fig-2; .-1

Fig. 6 is starter and circuitbreaker switch of the device. Referring primarily to Fig. i2 fit; will be. .seen that the machine is providedwith abase and top portion and has a longitudinal. drive shaft in each qfthese two portions. Thegupper': driver shaft operates ,the needle bar-:4 l f andthread 'l take-upV a Circuitdiagra1jillustrating the UNITE-D1. -1STATES PATENT ,OFFICE n Y' l' Y* THREADING DEVICE 4 i. ySolon'lon Adler, Gardens, N. Y. y f Application August 30, 1946,'Serial No. 693,919

I ciaims. (o1. i12-*225) 39. The lower shaft servesvthe feed 11 andbobbin casing 18. The drive shafts are composed of inner members l and 2 and outer members 3 and 4 capable of being telescopedl thereover. The latter ports have short stub shafts 5 and 6; connected by clutch devices 1 and 8 to their front ends. This arrangement is for the purposev of expanding and contracting the machine longitudinally. This mechanism will' be referred to herein only briefly and the term drive shaft whenever usedy in this description or the appended claims, should be understood as including the composite whole of the telescoped members .and short stub shafts. The expanding and contracting mechanism just referred to is the subject matter of a separate application for United States Letters Patent on Sewing Maf chine? identiedunder Serial No.v 693,914. andv The head shaft forms a sliding t in a bushing llA which is provided with a lbevel gear I2 and is in meshwith the motor gear 9 at all times. A slot and spline arrangement assures that ythe shaft Ill is rotated together with the bushing without any relative rotation of the two parts.

The head shaft also carries two oppositely disposed bevel gears 13 and I4 at its frontend. llhe lower drive shaft islikewise provided with .two opposed bevel gears I5 and I6 and the corre-l spending upper drive shaft` carries an end bushing IIwith a bevel gear I8, seeFig. 2. The operating connection between the upper and lower driveshaft is established by a vertical shaft I9 which has bevel gears 20 and 2l at its two ends. Parallel to this vvertical shaft which connects the drive shafts is another vertical shaft 22 which likewise has bevel gears at its two ends, these being numbered 23 and 24." .The machine is also provided in its upper portion with a trans-4 verse shaft 25 which, at its rear end, carri'esa bevel. gear 2li` and, at its-front end', is provided with a worm gear 21. Theiworm gear is in engagement with aVV pinion gear 28 ofV .a shaft' extending lengthwise of the top portion of the machine. The latter shaft, herein designated the' threading shaft, consists vof two telescoped memat theforwardend of the threading shaft is a bevel gear 30. The shaft also has a circ'ume ferential worm gear 3l located slightly to the rear of its front end. Provided on the frame are a sheave 32 and, associated therewith, a bevel gear 33. The latter gear is in engagement with the end gear 30 of the threading shaft.

The threading member proper is constituted by an endless spiral spring 34 which passes over the sheave 32 and, successively, through an eyelet 35, disposed on the tension device to be presently described, an eyelet 36, whichforms part of the thread take-up 39',` and two stationary eyelets 3'1 and 38.

A rod 40 is provided for the purpose of tensioning the spiral spring and thereby to take `up the slack that may have developed through Wear. times a good frictional engagement between the spiral spring andthe forementioned sheave 32. The tension rod 40 extends parallel to the needle bar 4l, that is, at right-angles to the threading sha-ft and is sli-dinglv ttedinto anouter tube 42 carried bythe frame.. The tube is laterally slitted and thus provides the Anecessary'clearance for an outwardly protruding cam member 43l attached to the lower portionof the tension rod. Thecam member is connected by a pull cordv 43a, which passes over a sheave 43h, to a securing block 44. The block is slideable on a-rod 45 which extends parallel to the threading shaft. As appears from Fig. 1 the block has a protruding linger piece 46 which is accessible from the outside` of the machine and adapted to move in a slot 41 of the cover plates of the machine. It also has a narrow plate-like lateralv extension 48 directed parallel to the cover plate and in close abutment therewith. The extension plate is provided with a recess 49 which, when the block is slidl to the right, registers with an inwardly` projecting latch l). An abutment 5| permits grasping of the finger piece 45 with the thumb while givingv support to the middle finger.

The device is: equipped with a lswitchfvSZ for starting the threading anda switch S3-for breaking the circuitat the completion 4of the operation. These two switches are in addition to the starter switch Roi the stitching mechanism and switch S1 of the expansion and contraction mechanism. The latter switches will.` not be described herein, beyond` indicating that their circuits. are entirely separate from the circuit oi the threading mechanism, as. should be clear from anI inspection of .the diagram in Fig. 6.

. The starter switch S2 of the threading mechanism is attachedto.` the frame of the machine, see Figs. 3 and 4*.Its lever 53 has a push-pull button 52 and, inwardly, a contact arm 54, bent back at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the lever. The contact arm is'provided with a slanting abutment face 55 for engagement of a normally outwardly pressed switch knob 56.. The switch, by virtue of this mechanism, is actuated' when, by pulling outlever 53, knob 56 is. pushed in. The switch is automatically openedl as soon astheknob isA released from the thrustof abutment 55. l

The lever is also: connected through a linkage 51, 58; 58a. and 58h toa forked collar 59l disposed on the rearward' end of the slide shaft I0. The. linkage arrangement is of? the reversing typeso that by pulling the lever out, the shaft I-U- is' slid inwards. Therefore, when button 52 is pulled, switchS3 is closed, head shaft I- is shifted and threading shaft` 22 is engaged while'gears I4 and? I5 of the drive shafts are brought out oi"engage'j ment.

Provision is thus made to assure at all' I'he other switch of the device, switch S3, is normally closed. It is disposed at the underside of the top portion of the machine in close proximity to the forward end of the threading 5 shalt. As is shown in Fig. 5, this switch is adapted slightly to oscillate in a horizontal plane on a stud 60. Its contact spring 60a is normally without reach but. by such oscillating movement, is brought within reach of abutment 6l of a rotating member 62, which is supported on a bracket 62a of the frame, and, at its top face,

v carries a pinion 63 as in Fig. 3. The pinion is disposed in mesh with the worm gear 3| of the threading shaft. In order to oscillate the switch as described,l a. prong 65 is swiveled on the frame. VIts right hand fork is adapted to contact a provjection 66. ot the switch while the other prong is within reach of thecam 43. Therefore, when me cam is moved upwards. the swivel member is moved in a. clockwise direction. Its right hand prong!v thenl imparts an oscillating movement to the switch, thereby moving its contact spring l-a into, engagement position.

The operation of the device is as follows:

First, the slide block: 4-'4 is shifted to the right by means of' the finger pieces 46 and 5l after unlocking of the latch- 58'. This raises the rod 4D and the eyel'et35i carried' by itI and, thereby, imposes tension on the spiral spring 34 and improves its: frictional engagement vby the driving sheave 32'. Raising or the tension rodi also moves the cam i3l upwards against action of the spring 1.4. The cam, bymeans of the intermediary swivel member 55, oscillates the switch S3` so that its contact4 spring 60o isr moved slightly to the right. This brings the contactv into engagement position with projection 6|. After opening of the door 'Hl (Fig 1f) a spool of thread is placed on the swing arm 12 (Fig. 2) which is disposed close to the frei-1t end ofv the upper drive shaft. The thread is then passed' overl a tension device 'I3 of' conventi"onalY design and is at'- tached to the spiral spring 34 by placing it between anyf of' the convolutions of' the spiral at a place betweentheisheave 32 and the eyelet 35i of the tensionv rod.

Thedevice is now ready for starting. Starting iseffected by pullingoutthe linobf 52. This closes theV motor' switch S31, and through linkage 513 58, 58a, 58h and collar 59, moves the head shaft" IG so that the vertical shaft 22 of the threading mechanism. is engaged and: the stitching mech:- anism, composed oi? the shafts l and 2 and their verticali connectingsliafty |35, is brought out of engagement;

Thel motorV can now rotate the threading shaft through the head shaftandi the connecting shafts 22, 25. The rotating movement of the threading shaft is transmitted throughl the be'vels 30, 33`- to no the sheave 32 and thereby tothe spiral 34' whichpasses thethread through. the eyelets 35i, 36, 3T andl 38 in succession. ThethreadZ can then be taken from the spirali and`l be placed into slotl l5 (Fig. l) at the lower end of the needle bar'y to 65 stead'yi it for' the threading intoA the eye of the needle-'155 Theterm-inationof' the threading is accomplished by the, rotation of the abutment carrier 62 which .brings the abutmentlinto engagement with` the switch' contact 80"; Forthis` purpose itA is requisite that 'the gearing ratio of worm 3l and pinion 'B3 be soselected that the 'carrier memberdescribesfone. revolution foi-the total of rotations through which the threadingjshaft 1 To must" pass. in: order:v to:- move thefspiral fromfthc' garmin place ahead'of eye 35 to aplace-shertlyzfollowing eye, 38.` As soon as' thecontact .llais'actm ated, the normally closed switch S2- will be opened and the circuit of the motor will be broken.-

:It should be manifest thatzthe commencement and termination of the threading lis entirely linde pendent of thenormal stitching operation. Since the starter switch S3 ofthe threading device' cannot bestarted without at .thesame time disengaging the stitching mechanism and also, -in the embodiment shown, A.the expansion f mechanism, no danger exists that 'the stitching or expansion will interfere with thethreading, and vice versa. IIf the machine kis to be startedafter completion ofv the threading, thelever-53 `must again be pushed inwards into the position showni in Figs. Band. 4 andthis willautomatically disconnect ythe' entire threading mechanism by vsliding-shaft l to the front and `disengaging `the gear I3 from gear 23. l g z It will be obvious that a number of modifica-.- tions may 'be made in my device without departing from the spirit of the linvention. For in.- stance, a member otherv than an endlessspiral could be employed tol-,carry andguvde thethread through the eyelets., .Also, the usefulness of my device is .not limited to a sewing machine orto the particular type of lock stitch machine illustrated in the drawings. Itcanbe employed in any kind of textile or other machine, where the problem arises to pass a thinfthread .through a plurality of narrow apertures. 1

I, therefore, do not wishtobe limited otherwise than by the language of the appended claims.

WhatI claim is: v i

1. A device for guiding a threadthrough a plurality of eyelets, comprisingan endless movable `carrier member, said member passingthrough said eyelets and rbeing adapted to carrywith it Aa thread secured to it, and means to :impart a lengthwise movement to vsaid carrier member and thus to guide the thread ,through theeyelets.

2. A device for guiding a threadl through ,a plurality of eyelets comprisingan;elongated carrier member, the ksaid member extending permanently through said eyelets, and means to impart a' movement to said member along a path leading through said eyelets wherebyathread secured to 3. A device for guiding a threadthrough a plurality of eyelets, comprisingfan endless carrier member extending permanently throughall of the saidv eyelets, a rotatable supportfor operative engagement with said carrier membe'nand drive means for rotatingsaid support whereby,` a lengthwise movement is imparted to said member along a revolving path and a thread attached to it is guided through the said eyelets.

4. A device for guiding a thread through an eyelet, comprising an endless spiral, passing through said eyelet and adapted to carry with it a thread placed between its convolutions, and means to impart a lengthwise movement to the spiral and thus to guide the thread through said eyelet.

5. A device for guiding a thread through an eyelet, comprising a distensible endless spiral, passing through said eyelet and adapted to carry with it a thread placed between its convolutions, means to place tension upon said spiral and means to impart a lengthwise movement to the spiral and thus to guide the thread through said eyelet.

6. A device for guiding a thread through a plurality of eyelets, comprising a rotatable support, an endless member operatively engaged by Said saidmember may be guided through said eyelets.

..6 support'ad passing through Vsaid eyeletsfthe endless member being adapted 'to' carry with it a thread attached to it, and means for rotating said.y support, thereby imparting a lengthwise movement to the endless member and thus guid ing the thread'through theeyelets. i 7. In a sewing machine ofthe type having `cooperating stitching mechanisms in the base and top portionof the machine and individual drive shafts for said stitching mechanisms, a device for guiding the thread through an eyelet, comprising in combination, a rotary shaft extending kparallel to said drive shafts, a sheave, an endless member passing through the said eyelet and adapted to carry with it a thread secured to it, mating gears associated with said sheave and said endless member, and means for selectively lconnecting the said rotary shaft of the threading mechanism and the said drive shafts of .the stitching mechanism to a power source.- l

8. In a sewing machine of the type having cooperating stitching mechanisms in the base and top portion of the machine and individual drive shafts for said stitching mechanisms,l a device for. passing the thread through a plurality of eyelets. disposed on the machine, comprising in combination, an endless member passing through thersaid eyelets and adapted to carryv with ita .thread attached to it, a support for said endless member, a mechanism' for imparting a lengthwise movement to .saidendless member, anv electric motor, means for selectively: connecting the said mechanism for moving the said endless member and the said drive shafts of the stitching mecha.- nismsvwith the transmission from the electric -motora switch control for the m'otor, and a lever for actuating the switch, the lever having a linkage lconnection to said means for selective connection of the moving mechanism of said endless -member and of the stitching mechanisms, whereby closing of the switch simultaneouslyconnects thethreading shaft and disconnects the stitching shafts. f 9*. In a sewing machine of the type having cooperating stitching mechanisms in the base and top portion of the machine and individual drive shafts for said stitching mechanisms, a'device for passing the thread through a plurality of eyelets disposed on the machine, comprising in combination, a rotary shaft extending parallel to said drive shafts, a sheave, an endless member passing.v through the said eyeletsand adapted to carry with it a thread attached to it, mating gears associated with said 'sheave and said rotary shaft for,A imparting a vlengthwise movement-to Vsaid endless member, an electric motor, means for alternatively connecting the said rotary shaft of the threading mechanism and the said drive shafts of the stitching mechanisms with the transmission from the electric motor, and switch means to break the circuit of the motor at the end of the threading operation.

10. In a sewing machine of the type having cooperating stitching mechanisms in the base and top portion of the machine and individual drive shafts for said stitching mechanisms, a device for passing the thread through an eyelet, comprising in combination, a rotary shaft extending parallel to said drive shafts, a sheave, an endless member passing through the said eyelet and adapted to carry with it a thread attached to it. mating gears associated with said sheave and said rotary shaft for imparting a lengthwise movement to said endless member, an electric motor, means for alternatively connecting the attira!!! said rotary. shaft yof the threading mechanism and-thesaiddriveshafts of the stitching mecha, with the.;transmission from the motor, a switch 4for closing the circuit .of said motor, a second vswitch forv automatically breaking said circuit at the endzof .the threading operation. the latter switch being Anormally closed, an actuating member adapted to engage and thereby to open vthe .second switch, a revolving carrier for the actuating member, a gear connection between the revolving carrier and the rotary shaft .of the 'threading mechanism, the .gearing ratio being so selected Athat the actuating member is brought into engagement with the second switch upon Ya predetermined degree of revolution of its carrier.

.11.- In a sewing machine of the type having cooperating stitching mechanisms in the base and top portion of the machine and individual drive :shafts for said stitching mechanismaa device for passing the thread through a plurality of eyelets disposed on the machine, comprising in combination, a .rotary shaft extending parallel to said drive shafts, asheave, an endless distensiblemember .passing through the said eyelets and adapted to carry with ita thread attached to it, mating gears associated with said sheave and said rotary shaft for imparting .a lengthwise movement to said endless member, an electric motor, means for :alternatively connecting the said rotary shaft Aof the threading mechanism and the said drive shafts of the stitching mechanisms with the transmission from the motor, a switch for closing the circuit of said motor, a second switch for .automatically breaking said circuit at the end of :the threading operation, the latter switch being normally closed, an actuating member adapted to engage and thereby to open the second switch, arevolving carrier for the actuating member, a gear connection between vthe revolving carrier and the rotary shaft of the threading mechanism, the gearing ratio being so selected that the actuating member is brought into engagement with thesecond switch upon a predetermined degree of revolution of its carrier, the said ycircuit breaking switch being movably carried by the frame, and .disposed normally without reach of the actuating 'member and adapted to be moved into engagement position at the beginning .of the threading operation.

12. A device constructed in accordance with g tension :member so as to tension the said-dis tensible member :simultaneously with bringing the said circuit lcireaking switch into engagement :position. i -i 13; A .device constructed in accordance with ci'aimtli, including a tubular member carried-.by the frame, a shaft vertically slideable :in the tubular .member and having one of the eyelets secured to it, so as Vto put the distensi-ble memberunder tension .by sliding the shaft outwardly, `a. cam member attached to said slidable shaft and 4adaptini to move the said circuit breaking `switch into engagement position at the vbegin.- ningof the threading operation, and means to fraise the said slidable shaft Aand cam member. y 14. A threading device including in combination a sewing machine, a needle bai-,forming a part of said machine, means providing a mounting for a. vbody of thread at a point on said machine .substantially remote from said needle bar, aplurality of thread-guiding elements to be engaged by a thread and movable means extending between said mounting and bar and in operative relation.-

yforming a part of said machine, a source of power, means normally connecting said source with said bar to movethe latter, means providing a mounting for a body of thread at a point subistantially remote from said needle bar, movable means extending between said mounting and bar Afor Vpassing the end of `a thread `from saidfbody V"to a point adjacent said bar, further connecting means for coupling said movable means with said 'source of power 'to cause an operation of lthe former and means for vrendering the connecting means between said source of power and needle bar inoperative to transmit power when said mov- 'able means is operated. SOLOMON ADLlll'` REFERENCES CITED The following references are vof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATEN'IS 'Number VName Date 981,125 Schoenfeld .June 10, 1911 1,350,592 Gorduan Aug. 24, 1920 2,108,474

Brunet al Feb. 15, 41938 

